Spool handling device



Oct. 18, 1966 s. VENTRIGLIO ETAL 3,279,753

' SPOOL HANDLING DEVICE Filed June 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 22 ENTORS safimhmv RMMQDeZQkY ATTORNEYS Filed June 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS 5W vamqhy W V. D'fiwdnwo' RGJMM Ma Defia ATTORNEYS! United States Patent M 3,279,753 SPGOL HANDLING DEVICE Salvatore Ventriglio, 129 Mueller Drive, and Alfonse V. DAmbrosio, 439 Evergreen Ave., both of Hamden, Conn.

Filed June 3, 1964, Ser. No. 372,284 2 Claims. (Cl. 254-8) This invention relates generally to a spool handling device and, more particularly, to a device for transporting large spools such as spools of cable and for holding such spools in a position for free rotation to permit the cable to be readily dispensed.

Devices for lifting and transporting cable spools are known in the art. Unfortunately, most of the less complex devices require considerable time, effort and labor to lift heavy spools of cable, wire and the like. The prior art devices that do overcome these disadvantages, have generally been quite complex and expensive and usually require care in handling and service.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improved spool handling device which can be inexpensively fabricated, which is simple to operate, and which can accommodate spools of several sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved mobile spool handling device which employs a pivoted assembly for supporting the spool and which provides a mechanical advantage.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved mobile spool handling device which employs an adjustable pivoted assembly which can accommodate spools of several sizes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a rigid frame is fabricated from structural elements and is provided with a plurality of Wheels so the frame may be readily rolled about. A lifting linkage is pivoted to the frame with the pivots being located in such a manner that relatively heavy spools can be lifted at one end of the linkage by the forces applied to the other end of the linkage by an operator. Means are provided to retain the linkage in the raised (spool) position so that the spool can be rolled about and freely rotated so that wire, cable and the like may be easily drawn off the spool.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spool handling device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with the lifter mechanism and cable spool being shown in full lines in the raised position and the lifter mechanism and cable spool being shown in phantom in the lowered position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with a portion of the cable spool being shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along line 5-5 'of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view similar to FIG. 1 of an alternate construction of the rear leg members of the frame of the spool handling device; and

3,279,753 Patented Oct. 18, 1966 FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a spool handling device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and especially FIGS. 1 through 3, the frame 11 of the spool handling device is basically composed of a left member 12 and a right member 13. Each member 12 and 13 consists of a horizontal member 14 from which extends, at each end thereof, short vertical members 15 and 16 which merge into upper members 17 and 18. The upper members 17 and 18 extend toward each other at acute angles relative to horizontal member 14 and are joined by a joining member '19 which may be substantially horizontal. As shown, the short vertical members 15 and 16, upper members 17 and 18 and joining member 19 may be formed from a single length of structural material such as boiler pipe steel tubing and the like. The horizontal member 14 may be welded at its ends to the lower ends of the short vertical members 15 and 16. For the sake of clarity in the description, the short vertical members 15 and the upper members 17 will be considered to define the front of the device, while the short vertical members 16 and upper members 18 will be considered to define the rear of the device.

Left and right members '12 and 13 are preferably secured in spaced relation by four horizontal spacing members 21 which may be welded to the left and right members at spaced intervals. The spacing members 21 are preferably provided only toward the rear of the frame so that the spaced opening between left and right members 12 and 13 at the front portions of the frame is unobstructed. Wheels 22 on suitable supports 23 are secured to frame 11 at each of the four lowermost corners. The outside surfaces of upper members 17 are provided with a plurality of holes 24 at spaced intervals. While only the holes in right member 13 are apparent in the drawings, it will be understood that identical holes at the same intervals are provided in left member 12.

A U-shaped lifter bar, indicated generally at 25, consists of a left lever 26, a right lever 27 and a handle 28. The left and right levers extend parallel to one another and are preferably adapted to lie outside of left and right members 12 and 13 respectively. The rearmost portions of left and right levers preferably extend upwardly at an obtuse angle with the rearmost ends of the levers being interconnected by the handle 28 which is rigidly secured to the levers as by welding. Each of the left and right levers 26 and 27 carries a pin 31 which extends through and is secured in its respective lever and which is adapted to be received in holes 24 in the upper member 17. The upper edge of the forward end of each of left and right levers 26 and 27 is provided with a substantially semi-circular cut-out 32. Pivot pins 31 are secured in lifter bar 25 substantially closer to the front end than to the rear end to provide a mechanical advantage for lifting spools of cable. Lifter bar 25 freely rotates wit-h respect to the frame about pivot pins 31 received in selected holes 24.

Each of the upper members 17 and 18 carries an outwardly projecting stop 33 which interferes with left and right levers 26 and 27 to limit the clockwise (FIG. 2) rotation of lifter bar 25 about pivot pins 31. The pivot pins 31 also help to support the levers 26 and 27 when the pins 31 are shifted to different hole (24) positions on the upper members 17. Latch means 34 are provided for holding lifter bar 25 in the raised spool position. One of such means is secured to each of left and right members 12 and 13 spaced from stop 33.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 4 the latch means 34 consists of an angular plate 35 secured to the frame member and to the spacing member 21. The angular plate carries a rectangular housing 36 in which is slidably mounted a latch 37 extending through one end of the housing. A rod 38 is secured to latch 37 and extends 3 through the other end of the housing with the rod being encircled by a spring 39 bearing against the housing and the latch to urge the latch outwardly. The upper outer surface 41 of the latch is preferably beveled so that the latch is cammed to a non-interfering position by lever 27, for example, as the lifter bar is moved into the raised spool position. Once the lever passes the latch, spring 39 urges the latch outwardly to block the movement of the lever, thereby holding the lifter bar in the raised spool position. In order to lower the lifter bar, a chain 42 interconnects rod 38 in each of the latch means and by pulling the chain, each latch 37 will be withdrawn, against the pressure of spring 39, to permit passage of right and left levers 27 and 26 as lifter bar is rotated in the counter clockwise (FIG. 2) direction, to lower the spool or to lower the levers to spool engaging position.

A spool rod 45 for carrying the spool is provided with an annular undercut 46 at each end which is adapted to engage the semi-circular cut-out 32 in each of left and right levers 26 and 27. Thus, engagement of the forward ends of the levers with the annular undercuts in the spool rod holds the levers in position parallel to one another.

Spool rod 45 carries a pair of flange members 47 which may be adjusted to any longitudinal position on the spool rod and may be secured in such position through set screws 48. The flange members are stepped so as to be readily received in the standard openings in cable spools of various sizes and, of course, the longitudinal adjustment of the flange members permits accommodation of spools of various widths.

A portion of a typical cable spool 51 is shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5. In FIGS. 3 and 5, the spool is shown in phantom. In FIG. 2, the spool is shown in the lowered poist-ion in phantom lines and in the raised spool position in full lines. In order to lift a spool from the phantom line position shown in FIG. 2, the following procedure takes place. Spool rod 45 is passed through the center of the spool and flange members 47 are adjusted on and secured to the spool rod so that the flange members are received in and support the spool as shown in FIG. 5. Latch means 34 are released through chain 42 to permit rotation of litter bar 25 to the phantom line position shown in FIG. 2. The spool handling device is then moved into position to straddle the spool as shown in FIG. 3 and the semi-circular cut-outs 32 in left and right levers 26 and 27 engage the annular undercuts 46 in the spool rod. The operator applies pressure to handle 28 to rotate the lifter bar to the full line posit-ion shown in FIG. 2 to raise the spool to the full line position. As the left and right levers pass latch means 34, the latches 37 are cammed inwardly until the levers pass beyond the latch means. Thereafter, the latch means move outwardly under the pressure of springs 39 to hold the lifter bar in the raised spool position until such time as it is desired to lower the spool. In this position, handle 28 can be readily grasped for wheeling the spool to any desired location. In the raised position, cable can also be withdrawn from the spool as the spool will freely rotate on lifter bar 25.

If cable is to be drawn from the spool, it would normally be desired to brake wheels 22 so that the device remains stationary. This may be done by placing chocks under tthe wheels or by applying a suitable braking mechanism to the wheels. Any known type of braking mechanism, such as that used on baby carriages, can be utilized. Alternately, left and right members 12 and 13 may be constructed in accordance with an alternate construction as indicated in FIG. 6 wherein only a portion of the right member is shown for the sake of brevity. In this alternate construction, rear wheels 22 have been omitted .and'the short vertical members 16 have been extended to include leg members 52 which will directly contact the floor and which support the rear portions of frame Ill. Because of the friction between leg portions 52 and the floor, suflicient braking forcewill be applied to prevent movement of the frame while cable is being drawn off the spool. Such a construction does not prevent the spool from being transported or wheeled about, but merely requires that the operator use the device in the same manner that he would use a wheelbarrow.

Since spools for various cable sizes and lengths have various diameters, it is desirable to have the device capable of accommodating many spool sizes. For this reason, holes '24 heretofore described are provided. These holes permit vertical adjustment of the position of lifter bar 25 by cooperation between pivot pins 31 and the holes in the frame. Adjustment of the level of the lifter bar takes place as follows. Referring to FIG. 3, spool rod 45 is disconnected from left and right levers 26 and 27. Due to the fact that the left and right levers are secured to each other only at the remote ends (carrying handle 28), the levers may be freely deflected at the ends closest to pivot pins 31 as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3. By deflection of the levers, pivot pins 31 may be re-adj-usted to the selected holes 24. Once the adjustment has taken place, and spool and spool rod 45 replaced, the cooperation between the levers and the undercut portions of the spool rod prevents deflection of the levers to hold the pivot pins in the adjusted position.

In the alternate embodiment according to FIG. 7, again the frame 53 of the spool handling device is basically composed of a left member 54 and a right member 55. Each member consists of a horizontal member 56 from which extends, at the forward end thereof a short vertical member 57 which merges int-o upper member 58. The upper member extends at an acute angle relative to horizontal member 56 and is joined by a joining member 59 which may be substantially horizontal. At the rear of the horizontal member 56, a long vertical member 60 extends upwardly and merges into joining member 59. As shown, the short vertical member 57, the long vertical member 60, upper member 58 and joining member 59 may be formed from a single length of structural material such as boiler pipe steel tubing and the like. The horizontal member 56 may be welded at its ends to the lower ends of the short and long vertical members 57 and 60. For the sake of clarity in the description, the short vertical members 57 and the upper members 58 -will be considered to define the front of the device, while the long vertical members 65) will be considered to define the rear of the device.

Left and right members 54 and 55 are preferably secured in spaced relation by four horizontal spacing and bracing members 61 and 62, respectively, which may be welded to the left and right members at spaced intervals. The spacing and bracing members 61 and 62 are preferably provided only toward the rear of the frame as previously explained. In this particular embodiment bracing members 62 are employed to provide greater rigidity to the device. This is especially desirable when the device is to be employed for use with larger and heavy spools.

Wheels 63 and 64 on suitable supports 65 and 66 respectively, are secured to frame 53 at each of the four lowermost corners thereof. In this embodiment of the invention, dolly-like wheels are shown by way of example for the rear wheels, it being understood of course that they may be eliminated entirely as previously indicated in FIG. 6. In this embodiment the supports for the front wheels are extended substantially forward of the frame so that the wheels 63 are supported and accordingly contact the ground level an appreciable distance forward of the frame.

A U-shaped lifter bar, indicated generally at 67, consists of a left lever 68, a right lever 69 and a handle 70. The left and right levers extend parallel to one another and are preferably adapted to be outside of left and right members 54 and 55 respectively. The rearmost portions of left and right levers are interconnected by the handle 70 which is rigidly secured to the levers as by welding.

Each of the left and right levers 68 and 69 carries a pin 71 which extends through and is secured in its respective lever and is adapted to be received in holes 72.

The positioning of wheels together with the use of appreciably larger front wheels adds to the overall stability of the device, especially when the pins are received in the lowermost and forwardmost holes.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination comprising, a left frame member, a right frame member, means securing said frame members in spaced relation, said securing means being located so as not to obstruct the space between the forward ends of said frame members, at least one wheel secured to each of said frame members at the forward ends thereof, a plurality of pivot holes in each of said frame members, said pivot holes in said left and right frame members comprising opposed pairs at selected levels, a left lever, a left pivot pin secured to said left lever intermediate its ends and adapted to be received in one of the holes in said left frame member, a right lever, a right pivot pin secured to said right lever intermediate its ends and adapted to be received in a hole in said right frame member, a handle securing said left and right levers in spaced relation at the rear thereof remote from said pivot pins, said left and right levers being constructed and arranged to permit deflection of said levers in the area of said pivot pins, and a rod removably supported by said left and right levers at the forward ends thereof less remote from said pivot pins, said rod cooperating with said levers to prevent deflection thereof while said rod is in the supported position, whereby said levers pivot about said frame members by cooperation of said pivot pins with said holes and whereby said levers may be deflected to permit removal of said pivot pins from a pair of said holes and insertion of said pivot pins in another selected pair of said holes and whereby said rod, while supported by said levers, prevents removal of said pivot pins from said holes.

2. The combination of claim 1 and further including latch means secured to said left and right frame members and cooperating with said left and right levers to releasably secure said left and right levers in a preselected pivoted position relative to said frame members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 764,344 7 1904 Buckelew 214390 2,543,381 2/1951 Rosenzweig 214394 X 2,706,092 4/1955 Ertner 214-396 X 2,851,186 9/1958 Rupe 214-394 X FOREIGN PATENTS 277,483 9/ 1930 Italy.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A LEFT FRAME MEMBER, A RIGHT FRAME MEMBER, MEANS SECURING SAID FRAME MEMBERS IN SPACED RELATION, SAID SECURING MEANS BEING LOCATED SO AS NOT TO OBSTRUCT THE SPACE BETWEEN THE FORWARD TO EACH OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS, AT LEAST ONE WHEEL SECURED TO EACH OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS AT THE FORWARD ENDS THEROF, A PLURALITY OF PIVOT HOLES IN EACH OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS, SAID PIVOT HOLES IN SAID LEFT IN EACH OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS, PRISING OPPOSED PAIRS AT SELECTED LEVELS, A LEFT LEVER, A LEFT PIVOT PIN SECURED TO SAID LEFT LEVER INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS AND ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED IN ONE OF THE HOLES IN SAID LEFT FRAME MEMBER, A RIGHT LEVER, A RIGIT PIVOT PIN SECURED TO SAID RIGHT LEVER INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS AND ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED IN A HOLE IN SAID RIGHT FRAME MEMBER, A HANDLE SECURING SAID LEFT AND RIGHT LEVERS IN SPACED RELATION AT THE REAR THEREOF REMOTE FROM SAID PIVOT INS, SAID LEFT AND RIGHT LEVERS BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO PERMIT DEFLECTION OF SAID LEVERS IN THE AREA OF SAID PIVOT PINS, AND A ROD REMOVABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID LEFT AND RIGHT LEVERS AT THE FORWARD ENES THEREOF LESS REMOTE FROM SAID PIVOT PINS, SAID ROD COOPERATING WITH SAID LEVERS TO PREVENT DEFLECTION THEREOF WHILE SAID ROD IS IN THE SUPPORTED POSITION, WHEREBY SAID LEVERS PIVOT ABOUT SAID FRAME MEMBERS BY COOPERATING OF SAID PIVOT PINS WITH SAID HOLES AND WHEREBY SAID LEVERS MAY BE DEFLECTED TO PERMIT REMOVAL OF SAID PIVOT PINS FROM A PAIR OF SAID HOLES AND INSERTION OF SAID PIVOT PINS IN ANOTHER SELECTED PAIR OF SAID HOLES AND WHEREBY SAID ROD, WHILE SUPPORTED BY SAID LEVERS, PREVENTS REMOVAL OF SAID PIVOT PINS FROM SAID HOLES. 